Author Topic: Power question - Power Conditioners? (Read 4742 times)

Brow · « **on:** April 05, 2006, 05:31:16 PM »

Hey guys.

My band has recently started rehearsing in an unused room of a local pub.

I set my pedalboard and amp (Orange AD30 head and 4x12 cab) up as normal, but as soon as I switched the amp on, and cranked it to any sort of usable volume, it made a loud continuous noise that was a cross between a hum and a buzz. The amp did this no matter where I stood in the room, so I know it's not due to my being stood too close to the amp etc.

I tried the amp at home today with the same guitar etc, and the noise wasn't there at all!

I'm assuming the noise was due to a bad power supply in the room at the pub? Otherwise the amp would make the same noise when I used it at home if it was anything else right?

Also, if it is the bad power in the pub that's causing this noise, is it dangerous to my amp, and would something like a Power Conditioner be of any use in this situation?

Can anyone recommend a Power Conditioner that I should get (if it'll help), as it's not an item of gear I have any experience with.

Thanx for any help.

Craig

hunter · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2006, 06:04:18 PM »

My house has very old electricity installations, and I have the same issue. Also there are huge difference in prices and purposes (it seems). I don't need an lightning protection or sth, mainly what I'm looking for is something that cleans out noise and interference from the power supply.

Furman website also didn't really help me to decide which is the ideal product for me :( #

Anyone got experience?

Searcher · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2006, 06:53:30 PM »

Ooh, I have tons of experience with this! Err, unfortunately, I'm still in the process of finding my own answers. Hey, I just wanted to post something.

In my fairly uninformed opinion, power conditioners are of use when the power fluctuates and you get spikes in the supply voltage--that sorta thing. It doesn't help with dips, because it can't generate its own power. And I don't know that it will do a lot for the hum you're getting. The way most people deal with hums like that is by making sure their gear is shielded like crazy and, if that doesn't completely fix the problem, buy a good noise gate.

I have already tried a Monster Powerbar with a clean power thingy in it that was supposed to filter out dirty signals and hum from my line, but it made no real difference and I returned it after one night. It might work for other situations though.

I'll be happy to read more informed responses than mine, since I'm dealing with this right now. My guitar even picks up radio stations at gigs! I'm gonna shield it with copper embossing foil from a craft store.

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2006, 07:51:18 PM »

Quote from: Searcher

In my fairly uninformed opinion, power conditioners are of use when the power fluctuates and you get spikes in the supply voltage--that sorta thing.

That's a regulator. They're designed to smooth out power fluctuations and whatnot, and some have an internal battery to deal with sags.

A power conditioner is used to filter excess noise from the mains (wall)power supply. If you want to see what a noisy power supply can do, go turn on your vaccuum cleaner while watching the TV. You can get the same sort of noise from many electric motors, including the motors for refridgerators and freezers, as well as the ballasts found in flourescent lighting.

A good way to test to see if the hum is from the mains power is to unplug your guitar, lead, and remove anything from the FX loop. Since you just removed most other sources of noise (pickups, poorly shielded guitar, poorly sheilded cables) if it still buzzes, there's a good chance it's from the power.

I use a Furman PL Plus....I believe the only difference between it and the PL-8 is slight difference in quality. The PL-Pro is more than what you need, and and requires a special plug. If you're in the UK make sure you get one with the "E" designation (PL-8E), since it's designed for use with 220-240v, 50hz. I believe they also make some smaller conditioners that aren't rackmounted, such as the Power Factor unit. I have no experience with these, but I believe they're basically the same unit mounted in a different chassis.

HJM · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2006, 08:13:36 PM »

VO5 Volume Boost conditioner....?? :lol:

I really like the stuff from www.russandrews.com Yello power leads to filter RFI and a Silencer for the mains noise, plus a spike clamp.

hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2006, 09:03:44 PM »

Hi Daisy,

Thanks for the info. Can it be the PL8 has 8 connectors and no RFI filter, whereas the PL+ has 10 plugs and the RFI filter? Guess that RFI thing will be the essential item then?

Where to you actually get the proper cables to connect your gear with? Are they supplied with the PL+ ?

CJ

fatbob · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2006, 10:48:22 PM »

I second HJM. I use russ andrews stuff on my (very expensive) hifi. They do a plug in 'filter' called "the silencer". think it retails @ £40, ive got a few dotted round my house, takes out noise from fridge switches, lights etc.

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2006, 11:21:38 PM »

Quote from: hunter

Hi Daisy,

Thanks for the info. Can it be the PL8 has 8 connectors and no RFI filter, whereas the PL+ has 10 plugs and the RFI filter? Guess that RFI thing will be the essential item then?

Where to you actually get the proper cables to connect your gear with? Are they supplied with the PL+ ?

CJ

I believe the PL-8 has RFI filtering, but it's not quite as good as the filtering on the Plus. The Plus has an LED voltmeter. I believe they both have eight jacks.

I'd also check out that Russ Andrews unit....the pain in the ass thing about the Furman units is that they're rack mounts, if you can get something that plugs into the wall it'd be easier to use.

Also, check out the Furman AC-215. It looks alot smaller/easier to use than a rackmount, and is nowhere near as huge as the PowerFactor Pro.

Brow · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2006, 12:12:26 AM »

Hey guys.

Thanx for all the info.

At practise, I remember unplugging everything from the amp (guitar, pedals, cables etc) and it still made the noise, hence I came to the conclusion that it was something to do with the power.

I like the look of those Russ Andrews Eliminator Plugs that you plug in next to your equipment on the power strip. I'll invest in 1 of those I think :)

Also, I found a Power Supply online by a company called Gemini that had 8 or 10 outlet sockets on it. Would it maybe be a good idea to invest in something like this? As you never know what the power is going to be like in venues etc :)

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 06, 2006, 05:19:27 AM »

I've found it handy to have a power conditioner. I've also been in a few places where I wish I carried a noise gate.

Searcher · « **Reply #10 on:** April 06, 2006, 06:57:16 AM »

How about the filtering on the powerbars? Like say, if you compared the M-8 to the PST-8?

I ask because the technology seems the same (both say they have LiFT) and because I had the Monster equivalent of the powerbar on my rig at one point and it didn't reduce the hum and interference at all.

I'm considering the Furman power conditioners, but I don't wanna spend money on something that's not going to improve things for me.